EXILED HUNGARIAN REVOLUTIONARY LAJOS KOSSUTH LAMENTS OTTOMAN VIOLENCE AGAINST HIS COUNTRYMEN

LAJOS KOSSUTH (1802-1894). Kossuth was a Hungarian nobleman, politician, and revolutionary.

ALS. 1pg. May 24, 1851. Kutahya, [Turkey]. An autograph letter signed “L Kossuth”. The former Governor-President of Hungary wrote from Turkey where he was in exile for his role in the failed Hungarian Revolution. He addressed Sir Stratford Canning, the British Ambassador in Constantinople, seeking assistance in dealing with Turkish violence against fellow Hungarian exiles: “Sir It is with the deepest sorrow I learn the violent measures of the Turkish Government, inflicted upon my poor exiled fellow countrymen at Constantinople. Being entirely at a loss what to think of this inexplicable sudden change in the politics of the Sublime Porte, as also in respect of the change in the Ministry: I beg leave to address myself to the wonted benevolence of your Excellency praying most humbly that you would be please to order that some exact information might be given to me about the meaning of those untoward events. With the most high esteeme [sic] and most particular consideration. Your Excellency’s obedient faithful servant L. Kossuth”. “The Sublime Porte” refers to the Ottoman Empire’s central government.  Kossuth would shortly leave the Ottoman Empire, first visiting the United States and then the United Kingdom.  The letter is in fine condition.